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Mary Russell Vick

Prolific goalscorer for the England women’s hockey team who later became an indomitable administrator

March 12 2012, 12:01am, The Times

Mary Russell Vick scored four goals in England’s 9-2 thrashing of Scotland at Wembley in 1952. She was partly responsible for the matches moving to the stadium

Mary Russell Vick was one of the outstanding England hockey players of her generation and a highly respected and pioneering administrator.

Following a distinguished playing career she served as president of the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) for ten years and was the inaugural chairman of the Great Britain Women’s Olympic Hockey Board.

Today’s generation of players preparing for London 2012 have her to thank for persuading the home countries to form the Great Britain Board in 1979 with a view to sending teams to all future Olympics.

Another great legacy was starting the annual internationals at Wembley. Her father-in-law, Sir Godfrey Russell Vick, QC, was talking to the president of the AEWHA following an international at the Oval in 1949 and said the…

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